Efficacy of different clinical assessment measures of hyperacusis: a systematic review

Purpose Hyperacusis is the hypersensitivity to auditory stimuli that would typically not affect those with hearing sensitivity within normal limits. The prevalence of hyperacusis in the general population has been estimated to range from 9% to 15%. There is no universally accepted definition for what defines hyperacusis among kindred illnesses of poor sound tolerance. As a result, hyperacusis prevalence varies more, which has an impact on both assessment and treatment. This study aims to determine the efficacy of the different clinical assessment measures of hyperacusis in assessing hyperacusis through a systematic review. Methods A review and reference of literature were done on hyperacusis, and assessment measures were used. A review of 23 articles was conducted to highlight these measures used. Most selected studies included retrospective, prospective, survey, and experimental designs. Study quality reported an overall low risk of bias. Results This review reports the summary and the current evidence of clinical assessment measures used for diagnosing hyperacusis. Conclusions This review highlights a protocol that may be used in the clinical diagnosis of hyperacusis. It also shows the necessity to standardize and validate assessment measures for the younger population.